My school's bass trombone has been having abnormally out of tuned playing and it is really worrying. :eek: This bass in particular is a Benge 290. Also note, I know the sound isn't great but I haven't played this horn since sophomore year and I'm currently a senior with a bass of my own. Here are the videos in question:https://youtu.be/-QY7M6DirFYhttps://youtu.be/VEMEfJkjKBI

Any ideas?

Edit: in the second video it actually did change the playability of the horn after re-watching the video. Here it is:Open: EbFirst valve: GSecond Valve: FBoth: Bb

Interesting. On the video link it states that the horn just came back from the repair shop? If so that's tragic but it should be returned by the band director for a fix. But if that's true I wouldn't trust that repair shop to clean my mouthpiece.

Interesting. On the video link it states that the horn just came back from the repair shop? If so that's tragic but it should be returned by the band director for a fix. But if that's true I wouldn't trust that repair shop to clean my mouthpiece.

I know a French horn player who got used to playing primarily on the Bb side because his switch valve had been strung incorrectly when he was learning to play. As a young professional he was still playing the same way.

I know a French horn player who got used to playing primarily on the Bb side because his switch valve had been strung incorrectly when he was learning to play. As a young professional he was still playing the same way.

That's actually a super interesting story! I wonder if he still plays that way?

I've sent it to the repair shop and it actually isn't bad as it seems. It turned out that it wasn't restrung correctly. That's the downside of string linkage IMO although besides that, the 290 is a great playing horn compared to the condition it was in my sophomore year. Very underrated bass IMHO and probably the only few independent basses I like... just my opinion.

I know a French horn player who got used to playing primarily on the Bb side because his switch valve had been strung incorrectly when he was learning to play. As a young professional he was still playing the same way.

As Rockymountain notes, pro's have been doing this for years... long enough that a number of horns are set up so you can easily string to "stand" in either pitch. Makes life confusing for a novice who picks a horn "just like ...." then runs into fingerings that don't match the book :eek:

I've sent it to the repair shop and it actually isn't bad as it seems. It turned out that it wasn't restrung correctly. That's the downside of string linkage IMO although besides that, the 290 is a great playing horn compared to the condition it was in my sophomore year. Very underrated bass IMHO and probably the only few independent basses I like... just my opinion.

There are a few French Horn professionals who have converted traditional F/B flat horns to work this way. Most high horn players (1st & 3rd players) spend more time on the B flat side of the horn.

Jim Scott

I asked a great French Horn player/ repair tech why so many horns are set up with F as the default key. He said, "Because players are still deluding themselves that they use the F side more than the Bb side." :D

Would it not actually be the downside to using that repair tech? My 14 year old daughter used to be able to re-string her valve correctly by herself. For an alleged instrument repair person to foul it up is unforgivable and no fault of the valve design ... IMO.

Would it not actually be the downside to using that repair tech? My 14 year old daughter used to be able to re-string her valve correctly by herself. For an alleged instrument repair person to foul it up is unforgivable and no fault of the valve design ... IMO.

Agreed. A properly strung linkage works great. This mishap is completely on Mr Fix it guy.

Agreed. A properly strung linkage works great. This mishap is completely on Mr Fix it guy.

I just stared at a 290 for some time this last Saturday. I have a REALLY hard time imagining how the tech mis-strung it. Must have been a special, unique talent. Wish we had a picture. That would have been a classic.

Wonder if this is the same tech responsible for this horn "... is great playing compared to the condition it was in ... sophmore year..."?

Just wanted to update that the tuning is back to normal! But the linkage of the second valve broke off... our school's poor Benge. :cry: I do have special plans for it, to find a good mouthpiece for it (it didn't work well with my Schilke piece :/ I mean it still played okay but it wiggled alot) with a longer shank and i personally found that our bass played better with larger pieces, don't know why TBH. And of necessary, I might send it to a different tech to maybe convert the linkage (nothing against string linkage but ours on the second valve just isn't good) so, long days without update but to sum it up, tuning is back to normal!

Just wanted to update that the tuning is back to normal! But the linkage of the second valve broke off... our school's poor Benge. :cry: I do have special plans for it, to find a good mouthpiece for it (it didn't work well with my Schilke piece :/ I mean it still played okay but it wiggled alot) with a longer shank and i personally found that our bass played better with larger pieces, don't know why TBH. And of necessary, I might send it to a different tech to maybe convert the linkage (nothing against string linkage but ours on the second valve just isn't good) so, long days without update but to sum it up, tuning is back to normal!

Your linkage is probably out of proper geometry. String linkages should be pretty quick... in my experience quicker than mechanical unless you've really well lubrciated the joints of it. Have you tried lubricating the pivot point? That is something that also seems to be neglected.